Jose Goncalves plays role in bringing Joaquim Adao to Hearts

Hearts last night completed their transfer window business by signing Angolan international midfielder Joaquim Adao on loan from FC Sion until the summer.

The 25-year-old agreed a four-month loan deal and could make his debut against St Johnstone on Saturday. After putting pen to paper, he revealed that former Hearts defender Jose Goncalves advised him he had to join the club.

Jose Goncalves is friends with Adao

“I’ve played with Jose in Switzerland, he’s a very good friend of mine,” Adao told the Hearts website. “I called him and he told me I have to go to Hearts.

“He said the club is very good and that I should go and enjoy my experience in Scotland. I also know Kyle Lafferty from my time at FC Sion. My friend Kyle is a top guy on the pitch and I like him. “I am very, very happy to be here.

“I think I’ve made a good choice, it’s a big club with ambition and I think I’ll be happy here. I’m a midfielder with good aggression and I think that I will be well suited to the game in Scotland. I play with spirit and I am here to help the team.”

Adao holds 11 caps for Angola despite being born in Fribourg, Switzerland. He is known as an authoritative defensive midfielder with a good passing range but made only three appearances for Sion this season after falling out of favour. He joins Norwich City striker Steven Naismith and Manchester United left-back Demetri Mitchell as loanees at Tynecastle. Danish winger Danny Amankwaa arrived last week from FC Copenhagen on a permanent 18-month contract.